Astina Airways, a plucky young entrant into the low-cost carrier segment will take a page from the recent Slow TV phenomenon running (proposed, subject to regulatory approval) weekly flights from Melbourne to Townsville. The first flight with depart October 19th at sparrow's fart (or shortly thereafter), arriving in Townsville with a relaxed 153hr flight time.

Astina Airways' fleet is an innovative reincarnation of the Douglas DC-3 that has painstakingly made to look rather like an early 00's Mazda hatchback. The inaugural flight will be captained by David Iceman Williams and his painfully unfunny co-captain Casey Goose Waters.

But in all seriousness, Dave and Case are driving a family heirloom (a relatively dodgy Mazda Astina that's good from afar, but far from good) from Melbourne to Townsville traversing 4 states visiting towns they can barely pronounce via roads that are some distance away from the chai-tea-lined laneways of Melbourne that the two are more familiar with.

Why? To raise money for an important cause. In Australia, close to 140,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year, with close to 50,000 predicted to lose their life as a result of cell abnormalities, or more commonly known as Cancer. Funds raised are directed to the Cancer Council to help them conduct research into the diseases, assist those who have been diagnosed with a cell-mutation disease and working with governments to educate and boost programs for early detection.

According to the Cancer Council's own research, 1 in 2 Australian men and women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85 with men over-represented in each statistical area. It's bleak, and that's why we're helping raise funds.

Come along for the ride as Dave and Case take their Mazda DC-323, turn it into an aircraft (likely making it far less reliable, heavier and slower), raise funds for an incredibly important cause and deliver a bit of fun to some drought-ravaged parts of outback NSW and QLD.

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Here's what I'm doing …

Shitbox Rally is the adventure of a lifetime challenging participants and their cars, worth no more than $1,000, this year for the 10th year anniversary rally, over a 7 day across Australia endeavour to raise money for cancer research.

The rally is not a race – it’s a fun, colourful, unpredictable adventure with participants travelling at their own pace in smaller groups. Vehicles often break down but “we never leave anyone behind” and each night is spent camping beneath the stars and celebrating the day’s achievements. It all adds up to an incredible opportunity to see Australia’s vast and beautiful countryside and make lifelong friends, many brought together after experiencing cancer themselves or seeing cancer impact family and friends.

Since it’s inception the rally has been the largest fundraiser for the Cancer Council nationally.